Combined HILIC-ELSD/ESI-MSn enables the separation, identification and quantification of sugar beet pectin derived oligomers

► Pectolytic enzymes almost fully degrade sugar beet pectins. ► The HILIC column enables a good separation of most oligomers present in the digest. ► HILIC-ELSD-MS allows a complete identification and quantification of all oligomers. ► The precise location of acetyl groups within an oligomer can be elucidated.